In the company’s first Nintendo Direct of the year, Nintendo shined a spotlight on the upcoming Fire Emblem: Three Houses. But don’t worry, lots of other games got a moment on the big stage as well. If you didn’t get a chance to watch the event live, we’ve gathered everything you need to know here.
Mario, Marvel, and Puzzles
Super Mario Maker, the Wii U game that lets players create their own levels of the iconic platformer, found a sequel on the Nintendo Switch. Super Mario Marker 2 is set to hit digital and physical storefronts in June 2019. You can expect to find new features, like Mario's cat form.
Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order found its way to the Nintendo Direct, and it's coming to the Switch this summer. The trailer heavily featured Captain Marvel, likely to coincide with her new movie coming out in March. Aside from her, expect to play with some of the iconic teams in Marvel's roster, like the Avengers, the Defenders, and the X-Men.
BOXBOY! + BOXGIRL!, the charming block-based puzzle game, arrives on the Switch April 26. The game features two-player co-op, with each player controlling one of the eponymous characters. A new character, name Qudy, also makes its debut appearance in the game.
Smash, Captain Toad, and Bloodstained
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate will receive a Version 3.0 update in the Spring. Nintendo refused to give any details regarding what will be changed or updated, but we should find out in the coming months. Additionally, the first DLC character, Joker from Persona 5, should be added to the game before the end of April.
Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker got a free update after the Nintendo Direct that added two-player co-op to every level, letting you play the game with a friend. Additionally, a Special Episode went on sale today, providing more levels for players to explore. The first level is available right now, with the rest coming on March 14.
Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night got a new gameplay trailer, with a vague release window of summer 2019. The trailer also revealed that players can customize the looks of Miriam, the main character.
Dragon Quest Galore
Nintendo finally revealed the Western port of Dragon Quest Builders 2. The game features a first-person mode, and owners of the first game can craft an exclusive armor set. Additionally, the sequel adds online multiplayer for up to four people. Otherwise, you can expect more of the same from the first Builders game when it launches on July 12.
In perhaps more important news, Dragon Quest XI, which launched worldwide on PC and PlayStation 4 last September, got a lengthy trailer on today's Nintendo Direct. Through it, Nintendo revealed the lengthily titled Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age Definitive Edition. This version of the game will make its way to the Switch in fall 2019. Players can expect more fleshed out stories and a nostalgic 2D overworld with an old-school battle screen.
Tsumthing Old, Tsumthing New
Disney's Tsum Tsum Festival brings the cuddly toys to life with a variety of competitive party minigames. Up to four players can compete, both locally or online. The puzzle game in Tsum Tsum Festival will also feature a two-person competitive game mode. Expect it on the Switch sometime in 2019.
Starlink: Battle for Atlas will receive an update in April 2019 that focuses on the Star Fox characters as they hunt Wolf down. These new missions are accompanied by starship races, and the update will be free to all who own the game.
Rune Factory 4 Special is coming to the Switch later this year, providing an updated look at the 3DS classic. The game plays similarly to Harvest Moon with some classic Zelda-like dungeon gameplay, and it'll hit the shelves some time in 2019. Additionally, Nintendo confirmed Rune Factory 5, although more information can be expected later.
Tokyo RPG Factory, known for their work on I Am Setsuna and Lost Sphear, have a new game in the works. Titled Oninaki, details for the game are few, but you can expect to gather lost souls before they turn into monsters. The combat looks action-packed, with real-time brawler inputs that are based on whatever lost soul you have equipped. Nintendo plans on dropping the game on the Switch in the summer.
Yoshi, Fire Emblem, and Tetris Battle Royale?
After the Direct, Nintendo launched a demo for Yoshi's Crafted World, featuring the titular character running through a world made of arts and crafts. If you end up liking the demo, mark March 29 on your calendar so you can pick up the full game on launch.
We got a deep dive into Fire Emblem: Three Houses, which Nintendo has been quiet about until now. The strategy game features a world controlled by three different empires. Your character stumbles upon a monastery that lies in neutral territory at the center of the nations. It's coming to the Switch on July 26, with a Seasons of Warfare Edition that includes bonuses like an artbook and soundtrack.
Nintendo Switch Online players have a treat waiting for them. Today, Nintendo released Tetris 99, a Tetris-based battle-royale game where you have to survive against 98 other players. The last person standing wins the royale.
A Slew of Announcements
The spooky multiplayer game Dead by Daylight is getting a Switch port in the Fall, while TobyFox's Deltarune: Chapter 1 will make its way to the hybrid console on Feb. 28 for free. Meanwhile, DAEMON X MACHINA, the stylish mecha game that was revealed last year, is getting a demo on the Nintendo eShop. Players can try out four different "Prototype Missions" for free right now before the full game comes out sometime in the summer.
Additionally, Nintendo reminded everyone that GRID Autosport will get a Switch port in the summer, courtesy of Feral Interactive. In a surprise announcement, Ninja Theory's Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice will journey onto the hybrid console before the end of spring 2019. Then Nintendo hit us with Mortal Kombat 11, which will launch on the Switch along with other consoles on April 23.
EA, Ubisoft, and Square Enix Get a Moment
Unravel Two, the sequel to the EA Original, added more of that Yarny platforming that made the first game so well received. The sequel releases on March 22, and you can play co-op with a friend.
In a nod to Ubisoft, Assassin's Creed 3 Remastered was revealed to come to the Switch on May 21. The Switch version will include motion aiming along with touch input, utilizing the unique features of the console. The title will include all of the DLC along with the standalone game, Assassin's Creed: Liberation Remastered.
Three Square Enix titles also got mentioned in today's Nintendo Direct. The classic Final Fantasy VII will make its way to the Switch on March 26, but fans of Final Fantasy IX can pick that up today on the Nintendo eShop. Additionally, Chocobo's Mystery Dungeon EVERY BUDDY! will arrive on March 20.
Two New Surprises
Nintendo likes to save its big surprise announcements for the end of these Directs, and today was no different. The company revealed Platinum Games' newest title, Astral Chain. Featuring a cel-shaded visual style with some sci-fi and demonic art direction, the game has some all-star developers working on it. Big names like Hideki Kamiya, who worked on Bayonetta, and Takahisa Taura, who worked on NieR: Automata, are both attached to this project, which is set for release on Aug. 30 exclusively for Nintendo Switch.
To end things with a bang, Nintendo revealed that it's working on a complete re-imagining of classic Game Boy title The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening. The remake will drop sometime this year, and everything is completely rebuilt from the ground up.
If you want to check out the full Nintendo Direct, you can see it for yourself below.
